A List To Make It A Happier New Year

January 1, 1987|By MIKE BILLINGTON, Staff Columnist

It`s the start of a brand new year and, like most folks, I have a few things I`d like to see happen during the next 364 days:

-- I`d like to see the business community get much more involved in public education: In Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties there are many ways to do that. For example, in Miramar, the A.C. Perry Elementary School has a wonderful, year-long program that teaches students not only about reading, writing and arithmetic but also how those skills relate to the business world. It needs speakers, money and advice on how to make the program more effective. All three counties have Junior Achievement programs begging for volunteers. And Broward County is one of only a handful of places in the United States that has an Academy of Finance program. It also needs volunteers. (Besides, getting involved in public education just makes good sense for businesses that will one day need qualified employees.)

IN THE LEGISLATURE AND CONGRESS

-- I`d like to see the Florida Legislature take its job as seriously as it takes itself: There are major problems with the state`s lien laws that need to be corrected so small subcontractors and contractors can survive another 12 months. The Legislature should also, among other things, continue to monitor (and reform where necessary) the state`s insurance and financial services industries. Insurance companies still discriminate geographically against South Florida landowners, homeowners, drivers and business owners. Banks and thrifts still get away with outrageous behavior when it comes to handling money that, frankly, doesn`t belong to them. (Inordinately long holds on checks, holds on cashier`s checks and even on travelers checks are just some examples.) Since the market hasn`t taken care of these situations, it`s time the Legislature did.

-- I`d like to see Congress leave the tax code alone for a couple of years: We`ve yet to file a return under the new law, and already members of Congress of a wide variety of political stripes are authoring bills to change it. (Don`t get me wrong, I still think the new tax bill is horrible. But businesses and individuals need some stability in the law so they can plan their financial futures. Planning, however, becomes impossible when every year Congress adopts a ``historic new tax bill.``)

THE NEW GOVERNOR SHOULD VISIT

-- I`d like to see cities and towns stop awarding contracts to companies that refuse to live up to bidding requirements on public projects: In the past year there have been several examples of local governments awarding contracts to low bidders even though those companies didn`t meet bidding requirements. This practice penalizes responsible companies that live up to the letter of the law -- and it`s often no great bargain for taxpayers either. When they reward companies that cheat on requirements and penalize those that spend the money to meet them, local officials make a mockery of the entire public bidding process.

-- I`d like to see Bob Martinez in South Florida: Martinez has a chance to make important changes in Florida over the next four years to insure a long growth cycle that doesn`t hurt the environment or otherwise destroy our quality of life. I`d like to see Martinez, therefore, spend a lot of time away from Tallahassee getting to know the people and places of this state first hand. Too often, I think, governors spend too much time in the state capital and not enough time out witnessing what impact their actions have on the people who elect them.

-- I`d like to see everyone have a profitable new year: As Mr. Spock is fond of saying: ``Live long and prosper.``